Key lock



*may 29, w23. 11,456,5@4

D. M. BELLl v KEY LOCK Filed April 22, 1920 2 sheets-sheet 1 Jgl VMay 29, 11923.

D. M. BELL KEY LOCK Filed April 22. 1920 2 Sl'xeets--Sheei'I 2 Patented Mag? 259, i923.

entre@ 'sr-.aras

intatta Parana canton.

main m. BELL, or unicaen, Immers.

`KEY LUCK.

" Anplication led April 22,1920. Serial No. 975,869.

To all. whom. t may concern.:

Be vit known that I. DILLWYN M. BELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Key Locks, of which the following is a. specification.

'lihis invention relates to improvements in key-operated locks, and more particulo larly to that class of key-operated locks which are known as cylinder locks.

One object of the invention is to provide a master key lock of this class wherein a single master key ma be common to all possible pass or indivi ual key changes; and

to this end the presentimprovements contemplate the provision of a lock having a plurality of independent sets or series of tumblers, one set being adapted to be operated by the ass or individual key and the other set by t e master key, the operation of either set permitting the tumbler-carrying barrel to be rotated, to actuate thereby the bolt or other lockingmechanism.`

' As Yis well known, with cylinder locks of the various types heretofore .designed only4 a very limited number of changes are possible, which will be common to a single master key.l Accordingly, for a large number of locks having different individual keys a number of master keys are required. With the present improvements. however, any number of locks, all requiring diierent individual keys, may be mastered with one and the same master key, this being accomplished without sacrificing any of the advantages realized in cylinder locks as heretofore constructed.

From the above the practical and economical advantages of the present improvements will be readily suggested to those skilled in the art. Other ob'ects` vand advantages will appear fromthe v:following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherenone form of the improvements is shown embodied in two dilfferent types of y cylinder locks. l.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one form of cylinder lock showing the 5o 'present improvements embodied therein;

and the manner of operating the same by` means of the master key;

Fig. 2 is a sectional'view, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is line 3--3 of Fig. l;

a sectional view, taken on the Fig. 4 a side elevation of the tumbler carrylng barrel of the lock;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the ylinder or casing for receiv-Y ing thefbarre of the lock;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the casing of a` lock on a plane at right angles to that of the section shown in Fig. 1, and illustrating the tumble'r-carryingbar'rel in elevation in its proper position for mastering;

Fig. 7 isa longitudinal sectional view of a lock showing the manner in which the samev is operated by` meansl of the individual or pass key;

Fig. 8 isa sectional view, taken on the` Fig. 9 is a longitudinal 'sectional'view, showing the application ofthe present improvements to a cylinderlock of diHerent construction and the manner in which the same is operatedby its individual or pass key Fig. 10 is a sectional view, taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view, similar to that disclosed in Fig. 9 and showing the-mannerof operating the same by means of the master key.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view, taken on'the line 12-12 of Fig.- 11;

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lock shown in Fig. 1l, this section being taken on a pla-ne at right angles to that of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 14 is a sectional view, taken on the line 14-14 of Fig. 13.

Referring more in detail to the drawings. and particularly to Figs. 1-8 inclusive, the

lock 1s .shown as comprising the usual casing or cylinder 10, the tumbler-carrying barrel 11 mounted therein, and the bolt or loc-k mechanism 12. The latter, of course, may be of any desired construction, it being shown in the drawings in the form of a sliding bolt 18, having an elongated slot'li designed to receive the stud 15, eccentrically mounted on therear end of the barrel 11, so that; upon rotation thereof the bolt will be either advanced or retracted, depending on the 'direction of rotation, to thus move the bolt into locked or unlocked position.

In the ormof the, invention shown in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, the barrel 11 is shown provided with two inde Vendent sets or series ico transversely therein. The barrel in the lock shown is formed in two semi-cylindrical sections or segments 18, provided with oppositely rejecting fingers 19, which interfit when t e segments are clamped together so as to provide two sets or series of slots or apertures extending transversely through i the barrel. These apertures or slots'receive the tumblers and serve to house and guide the same in their reciprocatorymoveme'nts. Each segment or section is also formed so that when they are clamped together a cen-4 tral keyway or 'aperture 21 is provided in the rically opposite longitudinally extending grooves provided in the inner surface of the cylinder'or casing, so that rotation of the barrel relatively to the casing is prevented.

In cylinder locks of the pin tumbler type, as

lnow constructed, the tumblers when in locked position engage recesses provided in the inner surface of the casing or cvlmder,

to prevent rotation of said barrel. The barrels of these prior locks are capable only of a rotary movement upon alinement oi" the tumblers, and it is a prerequisite to such rotary movement that all of the tumblers be alined. In short, if but one tumbler is in engagement with its slot or recess, the rotation or operationjof the barrel is prevented.

' As t distinguished from this, the lpresent n improvements contemplate broadly the provision of two independent sets oftumblers. the operation of either set permltting the tumbler-carrying barrel to be rotated, re-

gardless of the positions of the tumblers in the other set. From this it will bereadily appreciated that the lock embodying `the present improvements may be provided with' an individual or pass key which will aline only one ofthe setsI of tumblers, leaving the other set in its projected position, while this latten set may be constructed 4and so arranged in any number of locks requiringI different individual or pass keys, so that all of said locks may be' mastered by one and the same master key.

According to the present Aimprovements the above results are realized by the provision of two diametrically opposite grooves 23 in the inner surface of the casing 10, these grooves extending longitudinally of theV casing and being common to allof the tumblers 16 of one of the sets, anda series of individM ua-l grooves 24 for the tumblers 17 of the other set, these latter grooves also being :formed in the inner surface of the cylinder 10, but extending around the same in planes at right angles to the rooves 23 and intersecting said grooves. t will thus be apparent that when the tumblers 16 and 17 are in their projected positions the barrel 11 is held against longitudinal movement by the en` 1 ga ement of the tumblers 17 within the circu ar grooves and against rotative movement by engagement of the tumblers 16 within the longitudinal grooves. The inner end of the casing or cylinder is provided with an outstanding collar 25, which is provided with two diametrically opposite slots site lugs or projections 29, designed for en' gagementl within the slots 26 in the collar 25. These lugs or projections are in the form of pockets or seats designed to receive oneend of the coil springs 30, the other end thereof seating against the adjacent `wall of thev housing. The barrel is, as above indicated rotatably and longitudinally slidablv mounted within the casing or cylinder, both of these possible movements, however, being prevented when both sets of tumblers are in engagement with their respective grooves. The tumblers 16 'of the set which enga es the longitudinal grooves 23 are adapted or operation by the pass or individual key 5,0, as shown in Figs. -7 and 8; and to this end the operating groove 50a provided in said key 1s so designed that upon full insertion thereof the said tumblers 16'will be alined in the barrel, thus permitting said barrel to be rotated. The engagement of the other set of tumblers, which are not operated by the individual key, Within the circular grooves permits this rotation of the barrel. notwithstanding their otfset relation. The other side of the individual key, that is, the side which uponv insertion of the key lies next adjacent the lateral lugs of the tumblers 17 of the master key series, is also grooved for receiving said lugs, but the groove is of no particular shape or design, it being merely provided to ermit-of the unobstructed passagel of the ey back and forth within the keyway.

The master key 60 'isl provided with a groove 60 designed to operate or aline the tumblers 17 of the said master key series, andl is also provided with oppositely projecting studs 31 designed to engage the outerI end of the barrel when the tumblers 17 4have been alined. With the tumblers 17 withinea,

drawn from their circular grooves 2t in this manner, it will be observed vthat by thrw ing the key forward the barrel, by reason of the latter being engaged by the studs `31 of thekey, will also be move forward or in a longitudinal direction within the cylinder. 'lhis forward longitudinal movement of the barrel within the casing is limi-ted by the shoulders r32 provided on the master keyv coming into engagement with the adjacent wall of the cylinder or casing. This longitudinal movement of the barrel, as will be observed, moves or slides the projecting` tumblers 16 of the pass or individual key series along within their longitudinal grooves 23; and the shoulders 32 of the master key are so -positioned that this inward movement 'Y is stopdped when the tumblers of this pass or indivi ual key series are in alinement with the circular grooves 24. As soon as-the projected tumblers are so positioned within the casing the barrel isfree to rotate, as will be readily appreciated. l During the inward movement of the barrel in the-manner `just described., itwill be observed, that the ring-shaped element 28,

which overlies the end of the barrel will alsobe'advanced, and during such movement will cause the coil springs to be compressed. )Immediately upon'the rotation of. the barrel inf such wise asto re-positionthe-pass key tumblers within their longitudinal grooves operation of the lock by means of the indi- `23, the' said springs 30 willautomatically return the barrel to its normal position. Uhviously, the side of the' master key corresponding to the pass key tumblers need not be'provided with a groove of any particular .orf definite design, as it is not required flint such a slot do Sanything but merely receive the lateral lugs ofthis series. lln short, the 'f vidual key is entirely independentof the As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, with vthe number of pass or individual key tumblers shown in the dra-wings, the variation in combinations or pass key changes runs practically into infinity; so that substantiallyI any number ot locks may be provided. all requiring a dill'erent pass orf individual key in `order to operate them. Yet, regardless of the' number of varying combinations or changes devised, a master key tumbler'arrangement may be employed Ewhiclfwill be common to all such locks, so-

that they may all be mastered with the aid! of a single master key. `Reterringnow particularly tojlFigs. 9 to 14, inclusive, the improvements vare here shown as applied` to a cylinderlock of the type employing the Aso-callecl apertured a block tumblers. -Here, also, the tumblercarrying barrel 33 is both rotatably and longitudinallyslidably mounted within the ses' vzu;

casing or cylinder 34, and said cylinder is provided with two sets of grooves, one set comprising the two lon itudinally extending grooves 35 and the ot er 'set the circular" grooves 36, as vdescribed above in connection with the other figures of the drawings. The

barrel 33, inthe :form shown in Figs. 9 to 14,

inclusive, is provided with the transverse slot 37, in which are slidably mounted a plurality of block tumblers38, each apertured, as at 39, to provide a keyway, the aper tures in the various tumblers being in dierent positions longitudinally :of thek tumblers when their ends are in alinement.` rllhe operating key is'serrated on both edges, so as to engage and operate the tumblers ,upon insertion/of said key. Each tumbler is provided with oppositely projecting lugs t0, andthe 'tumblers are so arranged withln the transverseslot 3'( that the lu s on every other tumbler lie on one side cfg the long1- tudinal axis of the barrel, while the lugs on the other tumblers lie on'the opposite side of said axis. ln applying the present improvementsto a lock of this character, the tumblers having their lugs on one side of the longitudinal axis are selected as the pass or individual key tumblers, while `the remain-` disposed K ing ones are selected for operating the lock by means .of the master key. The pass or individual key 70 is so designed or serrated that upon insertion-thereof it will aline the tumblers whose lugs project into the longitudinalrooves, s o thatin this manner thebarre may be vrotated andthe lock o'perated. The master key 80 is serrated' or de-A` signed to operate the other set of. tumblers, so that the rojecting lugs thereof will 'be withdrawn rom their respective circulargrooves' 36, thereby permitting the barrel vto be moved longitudinali 4within the casing,

as hereinbeforedescribe so as to aline the n projecting lugs of theother set of tumblers with said circular grooves, whereupon, as will be readiy understood', the barrel may be rotated. n vthis adaptation of the improvements the barrel is returned to normal position after it has been rotated, so as tov re-position the passvkey tumblers in their longitudinal grooves by the spring means above described indetall in connection with the other illustrations. 'llhe master key in these figures is also provided with diametrically opposite studs 80 designed for en-k ga 1f ent with the outer face of the barre1,lin rw? that said barrel maybe moved longitudinally upon the bringing of pressure to bear upon the key after the master key tumblers have been alined, and the alinement of the pass key tumblers with the circ'rfilar grooves is governed by the provision o izo shoulders 80 on the master key which abut against the adjacent face of the cylinder or casing 34;, in .t

he sainel manner'as hereinafter descrimd.

While the present limprovements, have been shown as applied to only two types of cylinder locks, it is desired to point out that the principle and mode of operation are applicable to practically all cylinder locks heretofore constructed, whether they be of the pin or block tumbler types. ,It is believed that the present invention is the first to employ in a. cylinder lock two distinct sets or series of tumblers, each being entirely independent of the other in operation, whereby an unlimited number of locks having a common master key but each requiring a distinct pass or individual key, may be constructed.

In addition to the features and general application of the present improvements from the master key lock viewpoint, it is desired to point o ut one of its more specific adaptations. As is Well known, it is desirable in apartment buildings to provide a lock for the entrance door to such a building which is common to all the Pass or individual keys carried by the tenants. .In short, the pass keyfor any of the entrance doors tothe various, apartments is made to operate the lock in the entrance door to the building. Heretofore, in order to accomplish this result, the lock of the entrance door was provided vwith only one and in some instances two tumblers, so that by ',mcrely ,providing the pass keys to the apartments-with a corresponding number of ex- .tra serrations each of these keys could be used in opening the lock in the entrance d oor to the building, the other serrations on Athesekeys enabling the holder to lock4 or unlock the door to his apartment. With such a very few tumblers in the lock of the entrance door to the building, it is an easy matter to pick such lock, and it will be found in present-day practice that substantially all locks in entrance doors'to apartment buildings are insecure in this respect because of this practicei With the present improvements an entrance doorto an apartment building may be provided with .a cylinder lock just as secure kand safe, and as diliicult to pick as any' of the other locks in thebuilding, while at the same time such entrance door lock may be made common to all of the keysin the possession of Vthe various tenants. IlVhen the present improvements are applied `in such connection, one of the two independent sets. of tumblers would be employed as pass or individual key tumblers forthe locks in the various entrance doors to the apartments, while the other set of tumblers would be employed in these locks as the master series. In the lock for the entrancedoor of the building, however, this arrangement would be just the reverse, viz., the set of tumblers in this lock corresponding` to the pass or individualkey tumblers in the other locks would be the master key series, while v the set corresponding ries vin the other locks would be the pass or individual key series.

The above applies more particularly to locks of the type shown in Figs. 1-8, inelusive, where the tumblers are operated by means of grooves-in the sides of the key, for in locks having keys of this type-the groove in one side thereof would be made to operate lthe apartment door locks, and the groove in the other side the buildin entrance door lock. rl'hus each key would serve for two entirely diierent-yet equally secure locks.

It. will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible 'of various changes and modifications; and in view Ithereof it is not desired to limit the same to the particular embodiments or adaptations herein -shown and described,

to the master key seso'y except where limitationsy appear inthe apy ing operable by means of an individualor4 pass key, the operation of either of said portions permitting rotation of said barrel within said casing.

2. In a cyllnder lock, Va casing, a barrel rotatably and slidably mounted therein, two.. sets of slidable tumblers Imounted trans- 'V versely in said barrel, the ends thereof norv mally protruding beyond the perimeter of 'said barrel and engaging grooves in sai casing to prevent movement 'of said barrel relatively thereto, and meanswhereby said barrel maybe rotated upon the withdrawal of ythe tumblers of either set from said grooves.

3. Iny a cylinder lock, a barrel, acasing therefor, a plurality oftumblers carried by said barrel and adapted to engage'said casing to preventmovementof said barrel relatively thereto, and means whereby said barrel may be rotated upon disengagement of only a portion of said tumblers `from said easing.

4. In a cylinder lock, acasing. a,barrel rotatably and slidably mounted therein, a plurality of tumblers carried by the barrel and normally engaging groovesUin the casing, certain of sald grooves extending longitudinally of the casing and the others extending around said casing andintersecting said first-named grooves.

5. vThe comb'nation in a cylinder lock having the usual rotatable barrel, of an .inclosin casing therefor provided with a longitu mal groove and a plurality of circular v grooves, and a plurality of independently operablesets of tumblers carried by said barrel, one set engaging the longitudinal groove of said casing and the other set engaging the circular grooves thereof, said circular grooves intersecting said longitudinal groove.

6. ln a cylinder lock, a casing provided with a longitudinal groove and a plurality of circular grooves, a barrel rotatably and slidably mounted in said casing, and a plurality of independently operable 'sets of tumblers slidably mounted transversely in said barrel, one set being designed to engage the longitudinal groove of said casing and each tumbler of the other set being designed to engage one of the circular grooves thereof, the latter intersecting sald longitudinal groove, whereby said barrel may be rotated upon withdrawal of said first-named set of tumblers from said longitudinal groove irrespective of the position of said second named set or by withdrawing said second named set from said circular grooves `and sliding said barrel longitudinally within said casing until said first named set is alined with sai circular grooves.

7. In a cylinder lock, a barrel provided with a plurality of slidable tumblers transversely mounted therein, said tumblers normally protruding beyond the perimeter of said barrel, and a casing for said barrel provided with two sets of grooves, each set 1ntersecting the other and designed to receivev the protruding ends o said tumblers.

8. In a cylinder lock, a barrel, a casing therefor, two sets of tumblers carried by said barrel and engaging grooves in said casing, and means whereby the .disengagement of either of said sets from said grooves permits of said barrelvbeing rotated within said casin 9. in a cylinder lock, the combination with the barrel and casing thereof, of two independent sets of tumblers carried by s aid barrel and normally engaging said casing, the alinement of either set within said barrel permitting the latter to be rotated irrespective of the positions of the tumblers of the other. set.

10. In a cylinder lock, a casing, a barrel rotatably mounted therein, a plurality of sets of tumblers slidably mounted in said barrel transversely thereof, said tumblers being of a length substantially equal to the diameterbf said barrel, theY ends of said tumblers normally projectin beyond the perimeter of said barrel, sai caslng being provided interiorly 'with a plurality of grooves for receiving said projectmg ends, one of said groovesl extending longitudinally of said casing and being common to all the tumblers in one of 'said sets, the others ot said grooves extending around the inner surface of said casing in planes substantially at right angles to said longitudinal groove, there being oneot these latter grooves for each of the tumblers in the other of said sets, an individual or pass key for said lock designed to aline the ends of the tumblers of the set which engage the longitudinal groove, whereby the barrel may be rotated without withdrawing the tumblers or' the other set from their grooves, a master key.

designed to aline the other set of tumblers, and means whereby after this latter alinement said barrel may be moved longitudinally within said casing to position each tumbler of the other set in alinement with one of said annular grooves, whereby the barrel may be rotated b means of said master-key without withdrawing the pass key tumblers from said longitudinal groove.

11. In a cylinder lock, a casing, a barrel therein, a series of master key tumblers and a series of pass key tumblers slidably mounted transversely in said barrel and designed to engage respectively circular and longitudinal grooves in said casing, the circular grooves lying in planes extending at right angles to the longitudinal grooves and intersecting the latter at points intermediate the pass key tumblers, whereby said barrel ma be rotated by either a withdrawal of sai 4pass key tumblers from said longitudinal grooves or by the withdrawal of said master key tumblers from said circular grooves and a movement of said barrel longitudinally within said casing until said pass ey tumblers arealined with said circular grooves.

12. ln a master key cylinder lock, a barrel, two sets of interposed tumblers carried thereby and normally protruding therefrom, one-adapted to be operated by a master key andthe other by an individual or passkey, the operation of either set permitting the tumbler-carrying barrel to be rotated to actuate the locking mechanism.

13. lina master key cylinder lock, a casing, a barrel rotatably mounted in said casing, means associated with said barrel and normallycoacting with said casing to prevent rotation of said barrel, a part of said means being adapted to be operated by a master key and another part by an individual or pass key, the operation of either ol" said parts permitting rotation of said barrel.

'14. The combination inaV cylinder lock having the usual rotatable barrel, of an inclosing casing therefor provided with a longitudinal groove and a circular groove, and a-plurality of independently operable tumblers carried by said barrel, one engagin the longitudinal groove of said casing an ln testimony whereof, l have subscribed my name.

DLLVVYN M. BELL.

lll@

another engaging the circular groove there- A 

